Mantodea or mantises is an order of insects that contains
approximately 2,200 species in nine families worldwide in temperate
and tropical habitats. Most of the species are in the family
Mantidae. Historically, the term "mantid" was used to refer to any
member of the order because for most of the past century, only one
family was recognized within the order; technically, however, the
term only refers to this one family, meaning the species in the
other eight recently established families are not mantids, by
definition (i.e., they are empusids, or hymenopodids, etc.), and
the term "mantises" should be used when referring to the entire
order. A colloquial name for the order is "praying mantises",
because of the typical "prayer-like" stance, although the term is
often misspelled as "preying mantis" since mantises are predatory.
In Europe, the name "praying mantis" refers to Mantis religiosa.
The closest relatives of mantises are the orders Isoptera
(termites) and Blattodea (cockroaches), and these three groups
together are sometimes ranked as an order rather than a superorder.
They are sometimes confused with phasmids (stick/leaf insects) and
other elongated insects such as grasshoppers and crickets.
Mantises are exclusively predatory. Insects form the primary
diet, but larger species have been known to prey on small lizards,
frogs, birds, snakes, fish and even rodents; they will prey upon
any species small enough to successfully capture and devour. Most
species of mantis are known to engage in cannibalism. The majority
of mantises are ambush predators, waiting for prey to stray too
near. The mantis then lashes out at remarkable speed. Some ground
and bark species, however, pursue their prey rather quickly. Prey
items are caught and held securely with grasping, spiked
forelegs.
Generally, mantises are protected simply by virtue of
concealment. When directly threatened, many mantis species stand
tall and spread their forelegs, with their wings fanning out wide.
The fanning of the wings evidently makes the mantis seem larger and
more threatening, with some species having bright colors and
patterns on their hind wings and inner surfaces of their front legs
for this purpose. If harassment persists, a mantis may then strike
with its forelegs and attempt to pinch or bite. As part of the
threat display, some species also may produce a hissing sound by
expelling air from the abdominal spiracles. When flying at night,
at least some mantises are able to detect the echolocation sounds
produced by bats, and when the frequency begins to increase
rapidly, indicating an approaching bat, they will stop flying
horizontally and begin a descending spiral toward the safety of the
ground, often preceded by an aerial loop or spin.
Mantises, like stick insects, show rocking behaviour in which
the insect makes rhythmic, repetitive side-to-side movements.
Functions proposed for this behaviour include the enhancement of
crypsis by means of the resemblance to vegetation moving in the
wind. However, the repetitive swaying movements may be most
important in allowing the insects to discriminate objects from the
background by their relative movement, a visual mechanism typical
of simpler animals. Rocking movements by these generally sedentary
insects may replace flying or running as a source of relative
motion of objects in the visual field. Mantises are camouflaged,
and most species make use of protective coloration to blend in with
the foliage or substrate, both to avoid predators themselves, and
to better snare their victims. Various species have evolved to not
only blend with the foliage, but to mimic it, appearing as either
living or withered leaves, sticks, tree bark, blades of grass,
flowers, or even stones. Some species in Africa and Australia are
able to turn black after a molt following a fire in the region to
blend in with the fire ravaged landscape (fire melanism). While
mantises can bite, they have no venom. They can also slash captors
with their raptorial legs. They do not appear to be chemically
protected; nearly any large predatory animal will eat a mantis such
as Scops owls, shrikes, bullfrogs, chameleons andmilk snakes.
This is a very fun and challenging cache, in which you will have
to use your mantis skills in order to master this hide. Have fun be
very careful and enjoy the hunt.
Good Luck
FTF HONORS TO HurricaneJuan